The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-05
{ diatsly slipped into my Iady's chair,


( diately slipped into my lady's chair,
and held it fast, saying only, in reply
! to her earnest remoustrance: "Madamc,
you have left the chair; took il. You
have lost it. Voilar' A vagabond of
this kind took the seat of gentleman
who had rsen TO help lady oil u
street car. When the gentleman re-
turned he mentioned to the interloper
! that it was his seat The interloper
shrugged his shoulders, remarked that
it was an empty seat when he took it,
and that he should continue to occupy
IL. IF you don't get out of that seat,
! I'll take you out" was the rejoinder;
and the squatter scowled and abdicated.
Lady Mavourneen found what every
lady will find, that she could travel
anywhere in 1.-THE States" alone, with
entire safety and surrounded with the
utmost courtesy. The word lady"
with which she will be accosted by hack
men and porters and conductors is
spoken with kindly respect, and even if
some person in II lady's garb thrusts
herself into the cue of passengers slow
ly advancing to the window OF the
ticket Office to buy tickets, there may
be sour looks and amazed stares, but
she will generally have her way. So
great is our courtesy that we honor the
counterfeit claim. The source of the
most serious objection to the demand
of suffrage for women is the secret APP
prehension that men will lose their sim
cere Difference, and treat women rs they
treat other men, thus robbing the life
of the tender romance of chivalric
courtesy. Emerson says of the success
full lover and his mistress, "Shc was
heaven, while he pursued her rs a star;
can she be heaven if she stoops TO such
an one as me?"
Yet. while this feeling is frequent,
and seems to many very plausible, it is
the true respect of the American for
women which is the real strength of
this very movement. The European
sentiment for woman is still somewhat
med Dval. She is still the goddess Of
the troubadours and the minnesingers
but goddess who is treated rs the
South-sea Islanders treat their gods,
beating them when they are not pro-
pitious. To the American she is Words
worth's Phantom of Delight" seen up
on nearer view. and il is idle to prattle
about her sphere" as if she did not
nstinctively know it better than men.
The universal courtesy which Lady
Mavourneen remarked is essential re-
spect and kindness Of feeling, which
no more permits man to gid his sell
hshness with "Pardogn and II touch
of his hat than il permits him to strike
a woman.
Yet although courtesy is essentially
in the heart. and is kind fceling rather
than respectful manner, it is not worth
while to despise the manner. If we
must choose between the good heart
and suavity of address, between Boy
thorne and Loveace, of course we will
choose Boythornc. But why not bothP
Why not the mems SdRd IN c0rpore SaR0?
The young American of to-day pufls
his cigarette in the face of his partner
on the balcony, in the boat or in the
wagon, and smiles ut the Fl He'd Lo-
thario of yesterday bowling in his flow
cred coat and paying stately compli.
ments rs stiff as her brocade to the
dame whom he addresses. The youth
is right in saying that the lowered coat
and the stately compliment were the
dress and the speech of an old sinner.
But he would be right also if he re-
membered that familiarity breeds CON
tempt, and that he may wisely disirust
his feeling for any woman who does
not put him upon his good behavior.
The courtesy which Lady Mavourneen
observed in the railway station was
plain. but genuine. Respect naturally
produces courtesy. Good manners are
the cultivation of natural courtesy; the
gift and the grace of the gift.
This was the chief remembrance. and
it was unique and precious treasure,
which Lady Mavourneen carried back
to Europe from America - George INit-
lam curtis, IN Hdrper's Magazine.